Demon Tides review: Getting there is the entire point, preferably by a ridiculous route

The big picture

Beebz has an ocean full of islands to explore and an unusually persuasive reason to ignore the direct route. Demon Tides builds its adventure around movement that you can alter, experiment with and turn into a personal project. A distant structure is an invitation to wonder how to reach it. For a certain kind of player, “sensibly” will be the least interesting answer on the list.

Fabraz's full game first released on February 19, 2026, for Windows. The earlier demo is separate from that launch, and the Nintendo Switch version remains listed as to be determined as of October 18. Check the actual platform before planning your journey; the hookshot is not powerful enough to pull an unreleased port into existence. Official platform status

A place to explore, and a place to stop jumping

The open sea connects the locations, while a mobile base lets Beebz regroup with the crew and buy items. That gives exploration somewhere familiar to return to. There is value in a home base whose immediate demands do not include calculating whether the next ledge is reachable with your current equipment. Even an energetic demon should occasionally be permitted to stand normally.

Hidden treasures and optional challenges reward examining the environment. A prominent structure becomes more than an attractive shape when you begin imagining a path through it. The movement equipment helps make that relationship interesting: what you notice can depend on what you have equipped, and a familiar place can suggest a different plan.

That freedom also asks you to supply some direction. Players who want a compact sequence of carefully presented courses may find all the decisions about where to go less welcome. An ocean offers room to wander, including room to spend time wondering which piece of wandering to do first. Choose Demon Tides because that choice sounds enjoyable, rather than assuming a larger world automatically makes a more satisfying platformer.

You can race someone without inviting them over

Ghost challenges and leaderboards offer asynchronous competition. Shared graffiti gives separate journeys a lighter social connection. The main adventure remains single-player, so these features do not amount to a live co-op expedition. Nobody needs to arrange four schedules before Beebz can leave the base, which may be the game's most attainable fantasy.

Ghost races suit a world built around movement because a familiar route can become a new problem. Reaching the destination establishes one level of understanding; finding a quicker way gives that understanding somewhere to go. Players who enjoy shaving time from a run have a reason to revisit places. Everyone else can leave the stopwatch to the person for whom one tenth of a second apparently has a personality.

Graffiti offers expression without demanding speed. Alongside outfits and hair-colour changes, it gives players a way to contribute something personal to the surroundings. You can pursue technical mastery or make questionable artistic choices. Fortunately, these ambitions are allowed to coexist, so an excellent route need not be accompanied by equally excellent taste.

Familiar equipment, unfamiliar rules

The March 27 update added New Game Plus, Randomizer and Randomizer Hex. New Game Plus restarts the story with increased challenge while retaining outfits, dyes and talismans. It suits players who want to put an established collection to work rather than return to the beginning with the emotional expression of someone who has misplaced their entire wardrobe. Released modes update

Randomizer changes rewards and other elements, encouraging adaptation instead of a dependable remembered route. Hex automatically equips new acquisitions and prevents manual changes. That last variation has a sharper personality: acquiring something can become a small surprise about how the rest of your journey is going to work. People attached to a favourite setup should recognise the invitation before accepting it.

These are optional ways to revisit the released game, not promises about what might arrive later. Their value depends on whether you want another reason to learn the spaces. There is no need to adopt every mode as a personal obligation simply because it appears on the menu.

Demon Tides is most convincing for players who enjoy getting somewhere enough to make the route the main event. Customised traversal, checkpoints and asynchronous challenges all serve that interest. If you would rather be pointed at the next jump, a tighter adventure may suit you better. If you look at a distant island and immediately start devising something unnecessarily elaborate, Beebz seems willing to help.